Saenz, Villa make all-district

Mr. inside, Mr. outside lead Wildcats

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Senior Dominic Saenz was Deming High's statistical leader in just about every category. The District 3-4A coaches recognized Saenz as a First Team All-District 3-4A guard.

Consolation to a 13-16 season and a missed trip to the Class 4A State Tournament can be found in two All-District 3-4A selections from Deming High School. Senior Dominic Saenz and sophomore Andres Villa were selected by the district coaches for first-team honors.

"This is a good way to wrap up the season," said first-year Wildcat varsity head coach Pepe Alvarado upon learning of the player selections. "We lost the main core of the varsity team and it was important to find leadership among the players. Dominic gave me that leadership on the floor."

Villa, a 6-foot-4 post, drew plenty of attention from opposing teams. His inside play and the ability to jump out on the perimeter and knock down jump shots served the team well and kept opponents honest on defense.

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Sophomore Andres Villa (with ball) was named to the All-District 3-4A Basketball First Team by the coaches within the district. Villa, a 6-foot-4 post player for the Deming Wildcats, was a target for opposing teams to contend with during the 2013-14 season.

He averaged 10 points per game, 6 rebounds per game and had the highest field goal percentage (55 percent) with 25 games under his belt.

"He's only a sophomore and we can build the core of our varsity next year around him," Alvarado said.

Saenz led the Wildcats in just about every offensive category from his point guard position. He was the team's scoring leader at 15-ppg. and also had three steals per game. He made 46 3-point baskets and led the team in steals with 65 on the season. He was 73 percent from the free throw line to lead the team.

Saenz has the ability to create on the basketball court. His acrobatic drives to the basket were improvised and he could spot up from behind the 3-point arch with accuracy. There was a sneaky quickness to his hand and feet that made him a defensive standout anywhere on the floor.

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Villa has been invited to play with an AAU U-16 all-star basketball team in Albuquerque. New Mexico Team Force practices in Rio Rancho and Villa is headed there on weekends in preparation for a spring and summer schedule of southwestern tournaments.

Second-Team All-District 3-4A honors went to Wildcat power forward Carlos Wilson (sr. 6-1). Wilson averaged 9-ppg. and 5-rpg., to go along with 53 percent shooting from the field.